16 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



"The appropriation for ISSl was $50,969.50 



" '' " 1882 was-. 16,194,50 



$67,164.00 



"The purposes for which the funds are asked for the coming two years are 

 fully set forth in the report of the managers herewith submitted, to which 

 your attention is called, especially to that feature which relates to the estab- 

 lishment of a mechanical department. This department is urged by the 

 State Board of Agriculture, and some of the agricultural socities. 



"The report of the President calls attention to the requirements of the Act 

 of Congress making the grant of land for this College, as to annual reports, 

 whereas the Legislature provides for publishing biennial reports only. The 

 conditions of the grant should be complied Avith, and Act No. 206 of 1881 

 should be modified in this respect. 



"The buildings for which appropriations were made in 1881 have all been 

 completed, and are now occupied. A new system of steam heating has also- 

 been provided with success as to heating, and it reduces the fire risk of the 

 old plan materially. The secretary reports the liabilities of the College fully 

 discharged, and sufficient funds on hand to defray ;the expenses of th& 

 remainder of the calendar year. 



" Success has attended the undertaking to educate young men to become 

 farmers. The total number of graduates up to the close of the last year was 

 272. I quote from a statement of President Abbot the following : ' Of this 

 number more than one-half are engaged in farming, horticulture, or in 

 agricultural schools as their business. A careful examination shows that les& 

 than two per cent, of the graduates of other kinds of colleges take up agri- 

 culture as a pursuit.' I respectfully refer you to the above report for more- 

 particular statements." 



LEGISLATION". 



The legislation in 1883 regarding the college, had reference to the makiug^ 

 and printing of reports as already given ; to the deposit of military arms and 

 accoutrements at the college ; and to the support of the college for the years 

 1883 and 1884. 



Estimates for the support of the college were presented to the Legislature by 

 the State Board of Agriculture in the printed report for 1881-2. See pages 

 13 to 18. 



The standing committees on the college in Senate and House, acting as a 

 joint committee, cut out the estimates $18,600.00 for the establishment of a 

 Mechanical Department, and the item for insurance, and added an item of 

 S5, 000.00 for the erection of a boiler house and chimney, 14,267.00 for steam 

 pump, pipes, hose, etc., for a system of water- works, and $1,000.00 for the 

 purchase of mechanical tools. 



The bill as made out by this joint committee was approved by the commit- 

 tee on finance, and of ways and means, and became a law, receiving one 

 adverse vote in the Senate, and four in the House. 



AN ACT making an appropriation for the support of the State Agricultural College, 

 for the erection and repair of buildings, and other improvements at the said 

 College. 



Section 1. The People of the State oj Michigan enact. That there shall be and is- 

 herebj' appropriated out of tiie IState Treasury the sum of eiglit thousand three 

 hundred and eighty-five dollars, for the year one thousand eight hundred and eighty- 



